REPAYE: Monthly payments are equal to 10% of discretionary income. The monthly payment amount is based on adjusted gross income, family size and total eligible federal student loan balance.

PAYE: Monthly payments are equal to 10% of discretionary income. The monthly payment amount is based on adjusted gross income, family size and total eligible federal student loan balance. Direct Loans only. You must be a new borrower as of Oct. 1, 2007, and your Direct Loan must have been disbursed on or after Oct. 1, 2011

IBR: Monthly payments are equal to 15% (10% if you are a new borrower) of your discretionary income. Both Direct Loans and FFEL Loans are eligible.

ICR: Monthly payments are the lesser of (1) what you would pay on a repayment plan with a fixed monthly payment over 12 years, adjusted based on your income or (2) 20% of your discretionary income. If you have a PLUS Loan (including Parent PLUS Loans), you can consolidate with a Direct Consolidation Loan and then you select ICR to repay the Direct Consolidation Loan.

If you have extra cash - and that may be challenging if you recently graduated - instruct your student loan servicer in writing to apply the incremental payment amount toward reducing your principal balance. Absent this instruction, your student loan servicer will apply the amount toward next month's payment (which will cost you more interest).

Whether that extra amount is $10 or $100 each month, every dollar counts.

No, your interest rate won't decrease. First, you can only consolidate federal student loans with the federal government. The result is called a Direct Consolidation Loan. The interest rate is equal to a weighted average of the interest rates on your current federal student loans, rounded up to the nearest 1/8%.

2. Can I consolidate private student loans?

Yes, you can consolidate private student loans through student loan refinancing with a private lender. The federal government does not refinance student loans.

Yes. When you refinance student loans, you can receive a lower interest rate because lenders will evaluate your credit profile, income and other factors and can offer you a lower interest rate than the federal government interest rate.

This is because when you borrowed your federal student loans, in particular, everyone receives the same interest rate regardless of underlying credit profile.

If you borrowed private student loans, you probably received a higher interest rate as a student than you could receive today since you are now earning an income and developed a credit history.

5. Why should I refinance student loans?

Typically, borrowers refinance student loans to lower their interest rate, save money on interest and pay off their student loans faster. Other reasons may include to change their student loan servicer, receive a better custom service experience and receive other benefits.

After you refinance, you no longer have federal student loans and instead will have a private student loan. While you no longer will have access to forbearance or deferral through the federal government, many private lenders allow you payment flexibility should you run into financial issues.

One strategy to increase your chances for approval, you can apply with a qualified co-signer with strong credit and income. Not only can a co-signer help you get approved, but also a qualified co-signer can help you receive a lower interest rate.

Many lenders also offer co-signer release options, which allows your co-signer to be released from financial responsibility after a certain time.

7. Can I change my federal repayment plan?

Yes.

8. If I apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, what do I do with my private student loans?

With Public Service Loan Forgiveness, you can have your federal student loans forgiven after 120 consecutive payments and by meeting other requirements.

Since private student loans cannot be forgiven through the federal government, you can apply to refinance your private student loans.